Method and system for providing a heat-not-burn tobacco product

ABSTRACT

A heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member or consumable includes a first heating section with a front end. The first heating section contains a liquid aerosol precursor existing as a free liquid in an unbound form. A second heating section is provided with a mouth end. The second heating section contains a solid tobacco substrate. A first thermal barrier that is vapor permeable but liquid impermeable is located between the first heating section and the second heating section. The system has a simple structure and lowers processing costs, and greatly reduces undesirable harmful chemicals because of its lower heating temperatures for the first and second heating sections of the consumable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tobacco products and, more particularlyto a heat-not-burn tobacco product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Heat-not-burn (HNB) cigarette is a new type of tobacco product thatis heated by electrical heat or carbon-based ignition heat. When thetobacco is heated in a HNB cigarette, substances such as nicotine andaroma in the tobacco are evaporated to produce smoke to meet the needsof smokers. Heating does not burn the cigarette at the low temperature,which is typically between about 225-350° C., compared with thetraditional burn down cigarette. This greatly reduces the release of tarand harmful substances in the smoke. Because of this, the HNB cigaretteis gaining more and more attention in the market, and it may soon becomethe mainstream direction of the tobacco industry.

Currently, the HNB cigarette generates aerosol by heating a solidsubstrate such as a tobacco sheet, tobacco beads or cut tobacco derivedfrom reconstituted tobacco sheet. These solid substrates contain one ormore aerosol precursors such as glycerin and propylene glycol, andwater, along with other ingredients such as nicotine, and flavorcompounds.

Specifically, the prior art aerosol precursors are compounded with otherformulation ingredients, such as tobacco and other cellulosic fibers,polymeric binders, burn retardant agents, various flavoring agentsduring formation of the HNB substrate. As a result, the aerosolprecursors are chemically bound to other formulation ingredients andhence the aerosol precursors of the prior art do not exist as freeliquids in an unbound form.

Thus, these prior art HNB products suffer from several disadvantages:(1) they typically have a complicated manufacturing process, and highprocessing costs associated with forming the solid substrate containingthe liquid aerosol precursors and the solid tobacco and otheringredients; (2) the solid tobacco and the aerosol precursors combinedtogether need to be subjected to a high heating temperature such asbetween about 225.0 to about 350.0° C., in order to achieve sufficientvaporization of the aerosol precursors in the solid substrate, whichresults in the formation of undesirable tobacco based chemical compoundsin the generated aerosol; and (3) a larger amount of thermal energy isneeded to vaporize the aerosol precursor because it is chemically boundto other ingredients in the solid substrate. At such high temperatures,the tobacco undergoes chemical reactions and generates undesirableharmful chemicals that are inhaled by the consumer along with the formedaerosol.

The amount of aerosol precursor loaded on the prior art solid substratesis usually limited to not more than 20% by w/w (which=“weight forweight” or “weight by weight”, i.e. the proportion of a particularsubstance within a mixture, as measured by weight or mass). For example,if an aerosol precursor for a prior art solid substrate had 10 g/kg maxfor the entire substrate then its w/w value would be 1%).

This means that prior art solid substrates are generally dry to touchand do not require to be contained within a liquid impermeablecontainer. And because additional thermal energy is usually needed tobreak those chemical bonds for the “dry” aerosol precursor within thesolid prior art substrates, compared to having the aerosol precursor itin its free liquid form, the “dry” aerosol precursor may furtherincrease the production of the harmful tobacco based chemical compoundsdue to the additional thermal energy.

Thus, there is a need to provide an improved heat-not-burn tobaccoproduct to overcome the drawbacks outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a heat-not-burntobacco product, which has simple structure and lower processing costs,and greatly reduces undesirable harmful chemicals.

To achieve the above aspect, the present invention provides aheat-not-burn tobacco product, comprising:

a first heating section with a front end provided, the first heatingsection containing a liquid aerosol precursor;

a second heating section with a mouth end providing, the second heatingsection containing a solid tobacco substrate; and

a first thermal barrier that is vapor permeable but liquid impermeablelocated between the first heating section and the second heatingsection.

In comparison with the prior art, the HNB tobacco product according tothe present invention includes two heating sections for separating theliquid aerosol precursor and the solid tobacco substrate, the liquidaerosol precursor as the first heating section provides a front end, andthe solid tobacco substrate as the second heating section provides amouth end, further the first thermal barrier is formed between the firstheating section and the second heating section to control thetemperature, as a result, the heating temperature of the solid tobaccosubstrate is lower than that of the liquid aerosol precursor whenheating, such as to minimize the formation of heat induced toxicchemical compounds such as TSNA's (Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines)typically formed when tobacco is heated to high temperatures.Furthermore, the separation configuration of the two heating sections issimple, which reduces manufacturing costs.

In a preferable embodiment, the first heating section further comprisesa carrier substance. This carrier substance may comprise a fibrousmatrix, a porous foam, or a pleated and gathered web, and the liquidaerosol precursor is loaded on to the pre-formed fibrous matrix, thepre-formed porous foam, or the pre-formed pleated and gathered web. Theliquid aerosol precursor exists as a free liquid in an unbound formwithin the carrier substance. The carrier substance carrying the liquidaerosol precursor is usually contained/enveloped within a liquidimpermeable container, such as a metal container or metalized container.

The liquid aerosol precursor in a preferred embodiment is “wet” to touchwhen it is within the carrier substance. The liquid aerosol may have aweight by weight (w/w) percentage that is between about 25.0% and about600.0%, and preferably between about 30.0% and 200.0% (w/w) relative tothe entire (total) weight of the carrier substance that includes theweight of the aerosol precursor. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the liquid aerosol may be provided as a sole liquid/singlematerial within the first heating section, so a w/w percentage would notbe applicable to such embodiments.

As noted previously, the amount of aerosol loaded on the prior art “dry”solid substrates is usually limited to not more than 20% by w/w(which=“weight for weight” or “weight by weight”, i.e. the proportion ofa particular substance within a mixture, as measured by weight or mass).For example, if an aerosol precursor for a prior art “dry” solidsubstrate had 10 g/1 kg max for the entire substrate then its w/w valuewould be 1% w/w relative to the weight of the substrate including theweight of the aerosol precursor present on/within the substrate.

In a preferable embodiment, it further includes a cooling sectionconnected with the mouth end of the second heating section, and a filterconnected with the cooling section.

As an embodiment, it further includes a carbon based ignition sourceconnected to the front end of the first heating section.

Preferably, a second thermal barrier is configured between the carbonbased ignition source and the first heating section.

Preferably, a third thermal barrier is connected outside of the carbonbased ignition source.

As another embodiment, it further includes a first heater connected withthe first heating section, and a second heater connected to the secondheating section.

Preferably, it further includes a control device electrically connectedwith the first heater and the second heater.

Preferably, it further includes a base heater electrically connectedwith the control device and the first heater.

Preferably, the control device comprises a power source, a PCB, amicrocontroller, a LED indicator, a charge interface and a push buttonactivator or, puff activator or activation induced by insertion of thecigarette in to the heater.

Preferably, multiple air ventilation holes are provided to adjust anyingredient of inhalable aerosol.

Preferably, a thermal insulating layer is wrapped around the firstheating section and the second heating section, and an outer paper wrapis covered on the thermal insulating layer.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughoutthe various views unless otherwise indicated. For reference numeralswith letter character designations such as “102A” or “102B”, the lettercharacter designations may differentiate two like parts or elementspresent in the same figure. Letter character designations for referencenumerals may be omitted when it is intended that a reference numeral toencompass all parts having the same reference numeral in all figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention, similar to FIG. 3, butwith ventilation holes;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention similar to FIG. 4, butwith ventilation holes; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco product accordingto a fifth embodiment of the present invention, similar to FIG. 5, butwith ventilation holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Various preferable embodiments of the invention will now be describedwith reference to the figures, wherein like reference numerals designatesimilar parts throughout the various views. As indicated above, theinvention is directed to a heat-not-burn tobacco product, which hassimple structure and lower processing costs, and greatly reducesundesirable harmful chemicals.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to example implementations thereof. These exampleimplementations are described so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to thoseskilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theimplementations set forth herein; rather, these implementations areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. As used in the specification and the appended claims, thesingular forms, “a” “an” ‘the” and the like include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In some embodiments of this disclosure use electrical energy to heatsome material, to form the inhalable substance. In other embodiments theheating of the material is achieved by use of a carbon based ignitionsource. In both types of heating methods the material may be heatedwithout combusting the material.

The inhalable substances produced by heating the material may be invapor form (i.e., a substance that is in the gas phase at a temperaturelower than its critical point), the inhalable substance may be anaerosol (i.e, a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets ina gas). The term aerosol used in this disclosure is meant to includevapors, gases, and aerosols whether visible or not.

The w/w physical property is defined as “Weight for weight” or “weightby weight” (“w/w”). The w/w property measures the proportion of aparticular substance within a mixture, as measured by weight or mass.For example, if an aerosol precursor for a prior art “dry” solidsubstrate had 10 g/1 kg max for the entire substrate then its w/w valuewould be 1% w/w relative to the weight of the substrate while theaerosol precursor was present within the substrate (included in thetotal weight).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco productaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, theheat-not-burn tobacco product 10A includes a first heating section 110providing a front end 100 a, a second heating section 120 providing amouth end 100 b, and a first thermal barrier 130 located between thefirst heating section 110 and the second heating section 120.

The first heating section 110 may comprise a first vapor permeable, butliquid impermeable barrier 111 a and a second vapor permeable, butliquid impermeable barrier 111 b. As will be explained below, the firstheating section 110 may contain a liquid aerosol precursor 110 a whichexists in a free liquid state and in an unbound form, and thus, thefirst heating section 110 must comprise a liquid impermeable substancewhich has the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable barrier ends 111 a,111 b.

The first heated section 110 may further include one or more flavorcompounds of nicotine lactate, nicotine levulinate, nicotine benzoate,maltol, citronellyl, phenyl acetate, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, phenyllactic acid, levulinic acid, cinnamic acid, nerolidol, caryophyleneoxide, gamanonalactone, isoamyl phenyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalarate,nicotine benzoate.

As noted above, the first heating section 110 contains the liquidaerosol precursor 110 a, and the second heating section 120 contains asolid tobacco substrate 120 a, and the first thermal barrier 130 isvapor permeable but liquid impermeable. In other exemplary embodiments,the second heating section 120 may comprise a non-tobacco plantmaterial. According to another exemplary embodiment, the second heatingsection 120 may be tobacco free and may contain a cannabinoid andcomprises at least one of: cannabidiol, tetrhydrocannabinol,cannabigerol, or cannabinol.

The first heating section 110, the second heating section 120 and thefirst thermal barrier 130 form a part called “cigarette body”.

The second heating section 120 containing the solid tobacco substrate120 a may further comprise barriers 112 a, 112 b. These barriers 112 a,112 b are vapor (only) permeable barriers.

Meanwhile, the cylinder for the first heating section 110 and thecylinder for the second heating section 120 are a metal coating,laminate, or a solid metal tube made of at least one selected frommetal, carbon, ceramic, plastic, and glass, for example. The two heatingsections 110, 120 may be made of at least one of: metal, ceramic,plastic, carbon, a composite material or a coating, a laminate, or aprinted layer on cigarette paper.

An optional thermal insulating layer 141 is wrapped around the firstheating section 110 and the second heating section 120. And surroundingthe optional thermal insulating layer 141 is a paper 142 to simulate theappearance of a conventional burn-down cigarette.

As noted previously, the front end 100 a of the first heating section110 comprises a liquid impermeable but vapor permeable barrier 111 a.The first heating section 110 and the second heating section 120 areseparated by a vapor permeable but liquid impermeable, first thermalbarrier 130 made from one of glass, polymer, metal, carbon, and ceramic.

This first thermal barrier 130 may be non-heat conducting or partiallyheat conducting. After the first heating section 110 and the secondheating section 120 are heated, the aerosol vapor generated from thefirst heating section 110 passes through the second heating section 120and mixes with the aerosol vapor generated from the second heatingsection 120, which are to be inhaled by the consumer at the mouth end100 b. It is noted that, the aerosol pathway extends from the firstheating section 110 to the mouth end 100 b.

More specifically, the first heating section 110 is configured to holdone liquid or a liquid mixture of the aerosol precursors such asglycerin, propylene glycol, water, and nicotine. Preferably, the firstheating section 110 further contains emulsifiers for controlling theevaporation rate of the liquid aerosol precursor 110 a, such asmicrocrystalline cellulose, nanocrysttaline cellulose, cellulosenanofibrils or bacterial cellulose. The liquid aerosol precursor 110 amay comprise at least one of: glycerin, propylene glycol, water,nicotine, and one or more flavor compounds. Suitable flavor compoundsare nicotine lactate, nicotine levulinate, nicotine benzoate, maltol,citronellyl, phenyl acetate, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, penyl lacticacid, levulinic acid, cinnamic acid, nerolidol, caryophyleneoxide,gammanonalactone, isoamyl penyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalarate,nicotine benzoate, cannabidiol, tetrhydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, orcannabinol.

The liquid aerosol precursor 110 a, prior to any heating, may exists asa free liquid within the first heating section 110. The first heatingsection 110 may comprise a liquid impermeable container, such as a metalcontainer or metalized container, as noted above.

Preferably, in one exemplary embodiment, liquid aerosol precursor 110 aexists in the first heating section 110 as a free liquid. That is, theliquid aerosol precursor 110 a is contained in the first heating section110 in a liquid state. The first heating section 110 may comprise aleak-proof metal cylinder which has vapor permeable, liquid impermeablebarriers 111 a, 111 b at its ends.

In another exemplary embodiment, the liquid aerosol precursor 110 a maybe loaded on or contained within a carrier substance. The carriersubstance may then be placed within the first heating section 110comprising a leak/liquid-proof metal cylinder.

The carrier substance may comprise a preformed fibrous matrix, a porousfoam, or a pleated and gathered web. A preformed carrier substance isusually completely free of any aerosol precursor but capable of highaerosol precursor loading by virtue of its inherent porosity. Thecarrier substance carrying the liquid aerosol precursor is usuallycontained/enveloped within the first heating section 110.

One carrier substance may include a preformed porous fibrous matrix thatmay comprise a non-woven fabric. Such non-woven fabrics may be about 40gram per square meter in weight and can hold 200-600% liquid by weightof the fabric. Such fabrics may hold up to 1000% or more of aerosolprecursor or precursor mixtures by weight of the fabric.

Preferably such fabrics for the carrier substance may be metalized withmetal fibers, metal coatings or a mixture thereof to aid in heattransfer within the fibrous matrix. In other embodiments the nonwovenfabric may contain carbon fibers for heat conduction instead of metal.

When loaded on a carrier substance, the liquid aerosol precursor 110 ais “wet” to touch when it is within the carrier substance. The liquidaerosol precursor 110 a within its carrier substance may have a weightby weight (w/w) percentage that is between about 25.0% and about 600.0%,and preferably between about 30.0% and 200.0% (w/w) relative to theentire (total) weight of the carrier substance that includes the weightof the aerosol precursor 110 a. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the liquid aerosol may be provided as a sole liquid/singlematerial within the first heating section, so a w/w percentage would notbe applicable to such embodiments.

Meanwhile, as noted previously, the amount of aerosol precursor loadedon the prior art “dry” solid substrates is usually limited to not morethan 20% by w/w. And as such, prior art solid substrates containingaerosols are “dry” to the touch while any solid carrier substance withthe liquid aerosol precursor may be “wet” to the touch and will usuallyhave a weight by weight (w/w) percentage that is between about 25.0% andabout 600.0%.

In other exemplary embodiments, the liquid aerosol precursor 110 a isloaded on to carrier substances that may include a pre-formed foammatrix, formed from polymers, metals, fibers such as, macro, micro ornanocellulose, carbon or other synthetic or natural fiber based foamshaving sufficient porosity and capable of holding large liquid volumes.Such foams for the carrier substance are preferably cylindrical in shapealthough other shapes are not excluded. The foam may be metallized forheat conduction when heat conducting carbon is not used in the foam.

In another embodiment, the liquid aerosol precursor 110 a is loaded on acarrier substance that may include a pre-formed metallized fibrous sheetor web that is pleated and gathered and converted to a cylindricalshape. The sheet or web is made of at least one selected from cellulosefibers, non-cellulose synthetic fibers, metal, conductive carbon,graphite, and ceramics or a combination thereof. Heat conducting carbonfiber may be used in the absence of or in addition to metal fibers.

Such sheets, functioning as the carrier substance for the liquid aerosolprecursor 110 a, can be processed to have high porosity to hold highliquid volumes because of the formation of hollow channels during thepleating and gathering process. The liquid aerosol precursor 110 a maybe loaded on the carrier substance during formation of the carriersubstance that may include a gathered sheet or after formation of thesheet and or the cylindrical or other shaped structure.

It is noted that, that the carrier substance containing the liquidaerosol precursor 110 a in the above exemplary embodiments is preferablyconverted to cylindrical shapes although other shapes are not excludedfrom this disclosure. Other shapes include, but are not limited to,triangular prisms, rectangular prisms, pentagonal prisms, hexagonalprisms, octagonal prisms, etc.

The second heating section 120 contains a solid tobacco substrate 120 a,such as tobacco or other botanicals in various solid forms with otherflavor compounds loaded on or in the tobacco or the other botanical.Such solid tobacco substrate 120 a can be in strands, pellets, shreddedpieces, beads, gathered web, or cast sheet.

This second heating section 120 may also contain flavor compounds suchas, but not limited to, alpha-ionone, methyl cyclopentenolone, geraniol,nicotine mucate, nicotine L-malate, alpha terpineol, 2-acetyl pyrrole,bet-damascene, caryophyllene, 3-methylvaleric acid, propylene glycol,caproic acid, menthol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, anethole,ethyl phenylacetate, phenyl ethyl butyrate, 2-methylbutyric acid,benzaldehyde, methyl salicylate, 3-acetylpyridine, para-tolyaldehyde,2-methyl pyrazine, limonine, gama-valerolactone, linalool, isovalericacid, gamma-valerolactone, tetramethylpyrazine, ethyl caproate. In someembodiments, this second heating section 120 may contain non-tobaccomaterials.

The non-tobacco botanicals include at least one of cannabidiol,tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, and cannabinol. The second heatingsection may also comprise vapor permeable barriers 112 a, 112 b at itsends which seal the solid tobacco substrate 120 a within the secondheating section 120.

The first heating section 110 is usually heated to a temperature nothigher than 300.0° C., since less energy is required to vaporize theliquid aerosol precursor 110 a within the first heating section 110. Andwith the thermal barrier 130 between the first heating section 110 andsecond heating section 120, and since the first heating section isusually heated with a temperature not higher than 300.0° C., the secondheating section 120 may be heated to a temperature not higher than200.0° C. This lower temperature of 200.0° C. or lower for the secondheating section 120 may prevent or substantially reduce formation ofundesirable tobacco based chemical compounds.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a heat-not-burn tobacco productaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated, the HNB tobacco product 10B in the embodiment is similar tothe first embodiment of FIG. 1, except for the below differences:

The HNB tobacco product 10B further includes a cooling section 150connected with the mouth end 100 b of the second heating section 120,and a filter 160 connected with the cooling section 150. Specifically,the cooling section 150 includes phase change materials or coolingmaterials including at least one selected from metals, ceramics, andpolymers or combination thereof.

The filter 160 is made of fibers such as cellulose acetate, cellulose,polypropylene, polylactic acid or a paper filter. More specifically,sufficient holes are provided on the cooling section 150 and the filter160 to allow the aerosol to pass. Additionally, a plug wrap 151 iswrapped around the cooling section 150 and the filter 160, and the outerpaper wrap 142 is extended to wrap the plug wrap 151. In the presentinvention, the first heating section 110 and the second heating section120 are controlled at different temperatures, so as to minimize theformation of heat induced toxic chemical compounds such as TSNA's(Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines) typically formed when tobacco is heatedto the temperature above 200.0° C. Specifically, the heating temperatureof the first heating section 110 is not higher than 300.0° C., and theheating temperature of the second heating section 120 is not higher than200.0° C., and the heating can be achieved by ignition heating orelectrical heating.

FIG. 3 shows a HNB tobacco product 10C by using ignition heating, asshown, a carbon based ignition source 171 is connected to the front end100 a of the first heating section 110, and a second thermal barrier 172is configured between the carbon based ignition source 171 and the firstheating section 110.

Specifically, the carbon based ignition source 171 is lit by a lighterand upon ignition may reach temperatures around 900.0° C. This hightemperature needs to be reduced to about 300.0° C. by use of the secondthermal barrier 172 to heat the liquid aerosol precursor 110 a in thefirst heating section 110. Preferably, the second thermal barrier 172may be, air permeable, partially permeable or impermeable and may beformed from glass, metal, ceramic, carbon, polymer or a combinationthereof.

However, the second thermal barrier 172 can be omitted in otherembodiments. Meanwhile, a third thermal barrier 173 may be connectedoutside of the carbon based ignition source 171 for preventing anover-high temperature. Preferably, the second section temperature ismaintained below 200.0° C. by means such as air gap, cooling materials,fiber bundle, gathered fiber web, metals, carbons, and ceramics,polymers, or composites materials thereof.

In some preferable embodiments, multiple air ventilation holes 199 (SeeFIGS. 6-8) may be provided in the heat-not-burn tobacco product 10C, soas to adjust or dilute any ingredient of the inhalable aerosol, forexample, the air ventilation holes may be located between the firstheating section 110 and the second heating section 120, between thecooling section 150 and the filter 160, or on the cooling section 150and the filter 160, on the second barrier 172 and/or the third barrier173.

FIG. 4 shows a HNB tobacco product inserted in to a device capable ofheating by using electrical heating. As shown, the HNB tobacco product10D further includes a first heater 181 connected with the first heatingsection 110, and a second heater 182 connected to the second heatingsection 120 of the electrical heating device.

That is, the first and the second heating sections 110, 120 are heatedseparately to control the heating temperature of the first heatingsection 110 not higher than 300° C., the heating temperature of thesecond heating section 120 not higher than 200° C. Specifically, thefirst heater 181 surrounds the first heating section 110, the secondheater 182 surrounds the second heating section 120, and the firstheater 181 and the second heater 182 are separated by an insulatinglayer 183.

The electrical heating device 190 is electrically connected at the frontend 100 a of the cigarette body to control the heating. Such a heatingis accomplished by resistive heating, inductive heating or solid statemicrowave heating. Specifically, the heating device 190 includes a powersource (not shown), a PCB (not shown), a microcontroller (not shown), aLED indicator 191, a charge interface 192 and a push button 193 that areconnected. Although not shown, activation may be achieved by a puffactivator or by a sensor that detects the presence of the cigarettewithin the heater.

Specifically, the power source supplies electricity for the wholetobacco product. The power source may take on various implementations,preferably, the power source is sized to fit conveniently within thedevice 190 so the device can be easily handled, and the power source maybe able to deliver sufficient power to rapidly heat the first heatingsection 110 and the second heating section 120 in a short time.

Preferably, the power source can be a replaceable battery or arechargeable battery, such as solid state battery, thin-film solid statebattery, lithium-ion batteries (such as rechargeable lithium-manganesedioxide battery), or rechargeable supercapacitor or the like. Inparticular, lithium polymer batteries can be used as such batteries canprovide increased safety. Other types of batteries such asnickel-cadmium cells may also be used.

Preferably, if a rechargeable battery is used, the power source can beconnected to a wall charger, a car charger (i.e., cigarette lighterreceptacle) or a computer, such as through a universal serial bus (USB)cable or connector (e.g., USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 USB Type-C), or connected toa photovoltaic cell (solar cell) or solar panel or solar cells, wirelesscharger, or wireless radio frequency (RF) based charger. Preferably, thecontrol device 190 is further provided with a wireless communicationunit connected to the microcontroller, by means of which the tobaccoproduct can communicate with a handheld device such as a mobile phone, alaptop, a tablet or the like, thereby detecting the status of the deviceor the functionality of the remote control device 190 or periodicallyupgrading the software within the microcontroller.

In other embodiments, the power source may include a capacitor.Capacitors are capable of discharging more quickly than batteries andcan be charged while the tobacco product is heated, thereby allowing thebattery to discharge into the capacitor at a lower rate than if it wasused to power the tobacco product directly.

For example, a supercapacitor, e.g., an electrical double layercapacitor may be used separately from or in combination with a battery.When used alone, the supercapacitor may be recharged before each use ofthe device. Therefore, the tobacco product may also include a chargercomponent that can be attached to the heater before using to replenishthe supercapacitor.

In other embodiments, the first heater 181 and the second heater 182 maybe a conductive heater and/or an inductive heater or a solid statemicrowave heater. For example, the conductive heater includes aresistive heating member which is configured to produce heat whenelectrical current passes through it.

The conductive heater uses electrical conductive materials having lowmass, low density, and moderate resistivity. Exemplarily, the materialmay include, but are not limited to, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphitecomposites, metals, and ceramics such as metallic and non-metalliccarbides nitrides, oxides, silicides, intermetallic compounds, cermets,metal alloys and metal foils. In particular, refractory materials may beuseful. Useful metals that may be used, for example are, nickel,chromium, alloys of nickel and chromium (nichrome) and various types ofsteel. Mixtures of above different materials also can be used to obtaindesired resistivity or thermal conductivity.

Preferably, in one embodiment, the LED indicator 191 is connected withthe micro controller for indicating status of the heaters with respectto battery power or the temperature of the heaters. For example, a greenlight may indicate that the heaters have reached its pre-settemperature, a yellow light may indicate that the heaters are stillwarming, while a red light may indicate that the battery needs charging.Of course, various other kinds of indicator light functions arepossible.

Preferably, the push button 193 is connected with the power source forcontrolling the activating the heaters. Specifically, the push button193 is protruded from the housing of the device 190 for easy operation.After the pre-set temperature is reached, the heaters are stoppedautomatically, without having to operate the push button 193.

In the present embodiment, the control device 190 is electricallyconnected with the first heater 181 through a base heater 194.Specifically, the base heater 194 is connected with the first heater 181by means of a fixture 198. In some embodiments the base heater 194 maybe omitted. In other embodiments the first heater 181 may be omitted.

In some preferable embodiments, multiple air ventilation holes (notshown) may be provided in the heat-not-burn tobacco product 10D, so asto adjust or dilute any ingredient of the inhalable aerosol, forexample, the air ventilation holes may be located between the firstheating section 110 and the second heating section 120, between thecooling section 150 and the filter 160, or on the cooling section 150and the filter 160.

In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the cooling section 150 andthe filter 160 are configured in the cigarette body as mentioned in thesecond embodiment of FIG. 2. A mouthpiece 159 may surround coolingsection 150 and filter 160. The mouthpiece 159 may comprise a plasticmaterial, and it may or may not be heat resistant.

And relative to the first heating section 110, a first optional thermalinsulation layer 141 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 4. Around thefirst optional thermal insulation layer 141 is the first heater 181.Around the first heater 181 is a second optional thermal insulationlayer 141. And outside of the second optional thermal insulation layer141 is an outer body material 157. The outer body material 157 maycomprise a plastic material which is heat resistant.

However, in other embodiments, the cooling section 150 and the filter160 may be configured out of the cigarette body. Referring now to FIG.5, the cooling section 150 and the filter 160 form, along with an innersection 159 and outer section 161, a detachable mouth piece 101detachably connected to the housing of the HNB tobacco product 10E.Preferably, a removable lid 102 is provided on the mouth piece 101 toopen or close the mouth piece. The inner section 159 and outer section161 of the mouthpiece 101 may be made from a plastic material or metal,or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 6, this figure is a schematic view of aheat-not-burn tobacco product 10C according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention, similar to FIG. 3, but with ventilation holes 199.Ventilation holes 199 may be provided near the thermal barrier 130 thatpenetrate through the paper layer 142 and thermal insulating layer 141.Holes 199 may be provided near or in the cooling section 150 and thefilter 160.

Referring now to FIG. 7, this figure is a schematic view of aheat-not-burn tobacco product 10D according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention similar to FIG. 4, but with ventilation holes 199.According to this exemplary embodiment, the holes 199 may penetratethrough the outer body material 157 and through a thermal insulatinglayer 141 to the base heater 194.

Referring now to FIG. 8, this figure is a schematic view of aheat-not-burn tobacco product 10E according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention, similar to FIG. 5, but with ventilation holes 199.Like FIG. 7, the holes 199 may penetrate through the outer body material157 and through a thermal insulating layer 141 to the base heater 194.

In the present invention, the shape of the housing of the HNB tobaccoproduct is variable. In some embodiments, the housing is generally anelongated cylindrical rod or tube. The housing may be an integralstructure that is not removable, or include detachable two or moreparts, such as the mouth piece, the cigarette body, and the controldevice 190. Preferably, the shape of the housing is consistent with theshape of the mouth piece and the cigarette body such as the first andsecond heating sections 110, 120. The shape of the HNB tobacco productis not limited in this invention.

In conclusion, the HNB tobacco product according to the presentinvention includes two heating sections for separating the liquidaerosol precursor and the solid tobacco substrate. The liquid aerosolprecursor exists in the first heating section as a free liquid in anunbound form.

The liquid aerosol precursor as the first heating section provides afront end, and the solid tobacco substrate as the second heating sectionprovides a mouth end, further the first thermal barrier is formedbetween the first heating section and the second heating section tocontrol the temperature, as a result, the heating temperature of thesolid tobacco substrate is lower than that of the liquid aerosolprecursor when heating, such as to minimize the formation of heatinduced toxic chemical compounds such as TSNA's (Tobacco SpecificNitrosamines) typically formed when tobacco is heated to hightemperatures. Furthermore, the separation configuration of the twoheating sections is simple, which reduces manufacturing costs.

In addition, the present invention also provides a method of making aheat-not-burn tobacco product, which includes the following steps:

forming a first heating section with a front end provided, the firstheating section containing a liquid aerosol precursor;

forming a second heating section with a mouth end providing, the secondheating section containing a solid tobacco substrate; and

forming a first thermal barrier that is vapor permeable but liquidimpermeable located between the first heating section and the secondheating section.

Preferably, the method further includes loading the liquid aerosolprecursor on to a pre-formed fibrous matrix, a pre-formed porous foam,or a pre-formed pleated and gathered web.

Preferably, the method further includes forming a cooling sectionconnected with the mouth end of the second heating section; and forminga filter connected with the cooling section.

As an embodiment, the method further includes:

forming a carbon based ignition source connected to the front end of thefirst heating section; and

forming a second thermal barrier between the carbon based ignitionsource and the first heating section, thereby controlling the firstheating section be heated to a temperature not higher than 300.0° C.,and the second heating section be heated to a temperature less than200.0° C.

As another embodiment, the method further includes:

forming a first heater connected with the first heating section; and

forming a second heater connected to the second heating section, therebycontrolling the first heating section be heated to a temperature nothigher than 300.0° C., and the second heating section be heated to atemperature not higher than 200.0° C.

As noted above, and in addition to the above, the carrier substance forthe liquid aerosol 110 a may comprise: a fibrous matrix, the porousfoam, and pleated and gathered webs. The fibrous matrix, the porousfoam, and the pleated and gathered webs may be made heat conductive byincorporating metal, conductive carbon, graphite, ceramic or a mixtureof these materials. The liquid aerosol precursor 110 a may includemicrocrystalline cellulose, nanocrysttaline cellulose, cellulosenanofibrils or bacterial cellulose as emulsifiers, viscosity modifyingagents or as control agents for controlling the evaporation rate of theaerosol precursors.

The second heated section 120 may be loaded with tobacco or otherbotanicals in various solid forms and other flavor compounds loaded onor in the tobacco or the other botanical, such solids can be in strands,pellets, shredded pieces, beads, gathered web, or cast sheet, with orwithout a binder polymer or nanocellulose as a binder.

The two heated sections 110, 120 may be surrounded by a heat insulatinglayer made of glass, carbon, ceramic, plastic, composite material ofthese or a coating or laminate of these on paper. Meanwhile, for any ofthe embodiments, an outer cigarette paper wrap 142 may extend the entirelength of the consumable 10.

The front of the consumable 10 may have a heating element 194 and afixture for making electrical contact with the heating element or heater194. The front end of the consumable 10 may have a carbon based ignitionsource 171 and a thermal barrier 172 to heat the first heated section110 to a temperature not to exceed 300 deg C.

An aerosol pathway may extend from the first heated section 110 to themouth end 100 b of the consumable 10. The back end of the consumable 10may have an aerosol cooling section 150 containing phase changematerials: polymeric fibers or films in bundle form, or coolingmaterials made of metals, ceramics, or polymers that are porous enoughto allow passage of the aerosol.

The back end of the consumable 10 may have an aerosol filtering section160 made of fibers such as cellulose acetate, cellulose, polypropylene,polylactic acid or a paper filter. The first heated section 110 and thesecond heated section 120 may be made of metal, carbon, ceramic, or acomposite material. The composite material may be made out of metal,carbon, or ceramic printed on a plastic surface such that the two heatedsegments are separated by a unheated segment, such as by the thermalbarrier 130.

The heater 194 may be powered by a battery, a super capacitor or acombination thereof. The heater 194 may be controlled by a printedcircuit board (PCB) and/or a microcontroller. The heater 194 may have anLED indictor 191 and a push button 193 on/off activation. The heater 194may be puff activated (i.e. from a vacuum created by a consumer) oractivated by the presence of the cigarette.

A heater 194 or heating in general of the consumable 10, may beaccomplished by resistive heating, inductive heating or solid statemicrowave heating. The heater 194 may have air ventilation holes 199 soas to adjust the draw and or dilute any ingredient of the inhalableaerosol generated from the aerosol precursor 110 a.

The exemplary embodiments of the inventive method and system describedabove are interchangeable as understood by one of ordinary skill in theart. Various embodiments may be combined with other embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. That is, one or moreembodiments illustrated in the several figures may be combined together.

As but one non-limiting example of a potential combination of exemplaryembodiments, the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 could becombined with prior embodiments in other figures, such as, but notlimited to, those found in FIG. 4, such as using the mouth piece 101 ofFIG. 5 in FIG. 4. Other combinations of the exemplary embodiments arepossible and are included within the scope of this disclosure asunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

For example, as another non-limiting example of a potential combinationof exemplary embodiments, the second heating section 120 may beeliminated and the first heating section 110 may be heated by the baseand a wall heater. This exemplary embodiment may also contain at leastone of: glycerin, propylene glycol, water, nicotine, cannabidiol,tetrhydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, or cannabinol, nicotine lactate,nicotine levulinate, nicotine benzoate, maltol, citronellyl, phenylacetate, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, phenyl lactic acid, levulinic acid,cinnamic acid, nerolidol, caryophylene oxide, gamanonalactone, isoamylphenyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalarate, nicotine benzoate.

As another variation, the second heating section 120 may be retained andit may contain the same aerosol former ingredients as (1) above but thetwo sections 110, 120 are heated at different rates so that when theingredients of the second heating section 120 are about to be depleted,the ingredients of the first heated section 110 begin to form theaerosol for a continuous supply of the inhalable aerosol.

In addition to above, certain steps in the processes enabled by themechanical drawings in this specification naturally precede others forthe invention to function as described. However, the invention is notlimited to the order of the steps described if such order or sequencedoes not alter the functionality of the invention. That is, it isrecognized that some steps may performed before, after, or parallel(substantially simultaneously with) other steps without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention. In some instances, certain stepsmay be omitted or not performed without departing from the invention.

While the invention has been described in connection with what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferableembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intendedto cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member forproducing an inhalable aerosol, comprising: a first heating sectioncomprising a first hollow structure with a first end and a second end,the first end and second end comprising a liquid impermeable but vaporpermeable barrier to allow movement of a vaporized aerosol from thefirst end through the second end, the first heating section containing aliquid aerosol precursor; a second heating section comprising a secondhollow structure with a mouth end and a heated end, the mouth end andheated end each comprising a liquid impermeable but vapor permeablebarrier to allow movement of the vaporized aerosol from the firstheating section and vapors formed from a solid tobacco substrate or anon-tobacco plant material, the vapors being formed in the secondheating section from heat transferred by the vaporized aerosol from thefirst heating section to a first thermal, vapor permeable liquid barrierlayer that contacts the heated end; the second heating sectioncontaining the solid tobacco substrate, or the non-tobacco plantmaterial; and the first thermal barrier comprising a porous materialthat is vapor permeable but liquid impermeable located between the firstheating section and the second heating section and which substantiallyreduces heat transfer from the first heating section to the secondheating section while permitting flow of the vaporized aerosol from thefirst heating section into the second heating section.
 2. Theheat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1,wherein the liquid aerosol precursor is loaded on a carrier substanceand the liquid aerosol precursor vaporizes and moves from the carriersubstance through the second end once heated.
 3. The heat-not-burntobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1, wherein the liquidaerosol precursor exists in the first heating section as a free liquidin an unbound form.
 4. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source memberaccording to claim 1, wherein the first heating section has acylindrical shape, the second heating section has a cylindrical shape,and the first thermal barrier has a cylindrical shape.
 5. Theheat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1,wherein the liquid aerosol precursor is loaded on a carrier substancethat occupies a volume defined by the first hollow structure and thefirst and second ends.
 6. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol sourcemember according to claim 1, wherein the vaporized aerosol from thefirst heating section and vapors formed within the second heatingsection moves from the heated end through the mouth end.
 7. Theheat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1,wherein the first heating section further comprises a carrier substance,the carrier substance comprising at least one of: a fibrous matrix, aporous foam, or a pleated and gathered web; and the liquid aerosolprecursor is loaded on to the carrier substance.
 8. The heat-not-burntobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1, further comprising acooling section connected with the mouth end of the second heatingsection, and a filter connected with the cooling section.
 9. Theheat-not burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 1,further comprising a carbon based ignition source connected to the frontend of the first heating section.
 10. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosolsource member according to claim 9, wherein a second thermal barrier isconfigured between the carbon based ignition source and the firstheating section.
 11. A heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member forproducing an inhalable aerosol comprising: a first heating sectioncomprising a first hollow structure with a first end and a second end,the first end and second end comprising a liquid impermeable but vaporpermeable barrier to allow movement of a vaporized aerosol from thefirst end through the second end, the first heating section containing aliquid aerosol precursor; a second heating section comprising a secondhollow structure with a mouth end and a heated end, the mouth end andheated end each comprising a liquid impermeable but vapor permeablebarrier to allow movement of the vaporized aerosol from the firstheating section and vapors formed from a solid tobacco substrate or anon-tobacco plant material, the vapors being formed in the secondheating section from heat transferred by the vaporized aerosol from thefirst heating section to a first thermal, vapor permeable liquid barrierlayer that contacts the heated end; the second heating sectioncontaining the solid tobacco substrate, or the non-tobacco plantmaterial; and the first thermal barrier comprising a porous materialthat is vapor permeable but liquid impermeable located between the firstheating section and the second heating section and which substantiallyreduces heat transfer from the first heating section to the secondheating section while permitting flow of the vaporized aerosol from thefirst heating section into the second heating section; the second heatedsection containing a solid tobacco or other botanical matter, whereinthe first heated section is heated to a temperature less than 300 deg C.and the second heated section is heated to a temperature less than 200Deg C by a heat source; and a paper layer is positioned outside of thefirst and second heated sections.
 12. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosolsource member according to claim 11, wherein the liquid aerosolprecursor is loaded on a carrier substance and the liquid aerosolprecursor vaporizes and moves from the carrier substance through thesecond end once heated.
 13. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol sourcemember according to claim 11, wherein the liquid aerosol precursorexists in the first heating section as a free liquid in an unbound form.14. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim11, wherein the first heating section has a cylindrical shape, thesecond heating section has a cylindrical shape, and the first thermalbarrier has a cylindrical shape.
 15. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosolsource member according to claim 11, wherein the liquid aerosolprecursor is loaded on a carrier substance that occupies a volumedefined by the first hollow structure and the first and second ends. 16.A heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member for producing an inhalableaerosol comprising: a first heating section comprising a first hollowstructure with a first end and a second end, the first end and secondend comprising a liquid impermeable but vapor permeable barrier to allowmovement of a vaporized aerosol from the first end through the secondend, the first heating section containing a liquid aerosol precursor; asecond heating section comprising a second hollow structure with a mouthend and a heated end, the mouth end and heated end each comprising aliquid impermeable but vapor permeable barrier to allow movement of thevaporized aerosol from the first heating section and vapors formed froma solid tobacco substrate or a non-tobacco plant material, the vaporsbeing formed in the second heating section from heat transferred by thevaporized aerosol from the first heating section to a first thermal,vapor permeable liquid barrier layer that contacts the heated end; thesecond heating section containing the solid tobacco substrate, or thenon-tobacco plant material; and the first thermal barrier comprising aporous material that is vapor permeable but liquid impermeable locatedbetween the first heating section and the second heating section andwhich substantially reduces heat transfer from the first heating sectionto the second heating section while permitting flow of the vaporizedaerosol from the first heating section into the second heating section;the second heated section containing a solid tobacco or other botanicalmatter, wherein the first heated section is heated to a temperature lessthan 300 deg C. and the second heated section is heated to a temperatureless than 150 Deg C by a heat source; and a paper layer positionedoutside of the first and second heated sections, and a thermal layerpositioned between the paper layer and each heated section.
 17. Theheat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 16,wherein the liquid aerosol precursor is loaded on a carrier substanceand the liquid aerosol precursor vaporizes and moves from the carriersubstance through the second end once heated.
 18. The heat-not-burntobacco aerosol source member according to claim 16, wherein the liquidaerosol precursor exists in the first heating section as a free liquidin an unbound form.
 19. The heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source memberaccording to claim 16, wherein the first heating section has acylindrical shape, the second heating section has a cylindrical shape,and the first thermal barrier has a cylindrical shape.
 20. Theheat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member according to claim 16,wherein the liquid aerosol precursor is loaded on a carrier substancethat occupies a volume defined by the first hollow cylindrical structureand the first and second ends.